Organizations tracking online activity noted a spike on Tuesday. This occurred as Iranians regained access to the global internet after a government-imposed shutdown.
Iran started restoring internet access for millions of people, according to an official statement on Tuesday. The blackout followed military strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28. Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, announced on social media that the move aligns with governmental promises for regulated cyberspace access.
NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, confirmed a “partial restoration to internet connectivity” in Iran after 88 days. They noted this as the longest internet shutdown of such scale in modern history.
Iranians shared on social media and informed The New York Times about reconnecting to the internet after over 12 weeks. The government cited national security concerns for the shutdown. However, activists suggested it aimed at suppressing communications to maintain control during the conflict.
Internet traffic from Iran came from both fixed and mobile sources, according to Amir Rashidi, a cybersecurity expert with Miaan. He observed an increase in traffic, noting that while some providers resumed services, full restoration remains uncertain.
Earlier in January, a similar shutdown accompanied widespread protests, leading to a partial connectivity restoration, with traffic only reaching half of prior levels.
This prolonged shutdown further strained Iran’s already vulnerable economy. The tech sector suffered, with numerous companies closing and laying off employees. For months, Iranians relying on online sales faced severe challenges in maintaining their income.
Yeganeh Torbati reports on Iran for The Times.
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